The Relationship of Food Addiction With Other Eating Pathologies and Impulsivity: A Case-Control Study

The concept of food addiction (FA) has become central in recent years in understanding the psychological etiology of obesity. In this matched case-control study from Turkey, it was aimed to examine the prevalence of FA and related risk factors in four consecutive body mass index (BMI) categories. The case group consisted of pre-operative bariatric surgery patients with BMI over 35.0 kg/m2 (n = 40) and the control group was composed of age- and gender- matching individuals from the other categories, namely obese (n = 35), overweight (n = 40), and normal weight (n = 40). The Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) and a standardized clinical interview using the DSM-5 substance use disorders criteria adopted for FA, the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDEQ) and the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11) were used as assessment instruments. It was found that FA was significantly associated with more serious eating pathologies, more frequent weight-cycling and earlier onset of dieting, higher impulsivity, and higher BMI. Motor and total impulsivity scores showed a positive albeit week correlation with the severity of FA but no significant correlation with BMI, indicating a relationship between impulsivity and weight gain in some but not all individuals. The severity of FA predicted the increase in BMI. Our findings suggest that FA is associated with weight gain in a group of individuals, plausibly through impulsive overeating. Emphasis on FA and its clinical implications such as addiction-based treatments may improve outcomes in obesity and facilitate health promotion.

Assessing Negative Core Beliefs in Eating Disorders: Revision of the Eating Disorder Core Beliefs Questionnaire

Background: Increased theoretical and empirical attention has been given to examining the role of core beliefs in both the development and maintenance of eating disorders (EDs). The Eating Disorder Core Beliefs Questionnaire (ED-CBQ) is self-report measure designed to assess five dimensions of core beliefs relating to eating disorders; self-loathing, unassertive/inhibited, demanding/needing help and support, abandoned/deprived, and high standards for the self. The present study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the ED-CBQ and to develop a revised and improved version of the original measure, as necessary, after evaluating its factor structure and related properties.Methods: A sample of undergraduate university students (N = 763) completed an online test battery of questionnaires. Putative ED (n = 384) and non-ED (n = 379) subgroups were created from self-reported responses from the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDEQ). Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were performed, and internal consistency, construct validity, group differences and clinical utility was examined. Results: An initial CFA did not support the original five-factor 40-item ED-CBQ. Two revised versions were developed that both possessed equal or superior psychometric properties to the original 40-item measure. The ED-CBQ-SF and ED-CBQ-R both demonstrated superior model fit, similar levels of reliability and construct validity, and the ability to discriminate between putative ED diagnostic groups.Conclusions: Our results suggest that the ED-CBQ-SF and ED-CBQ-R are both valid, reliable, but more importantly efficient and accessible measures with the potential to be utilised both clinically and in research settings.

Inpatient Weight Restoration Treatment Is Associated with Decrease in Post-Meal Anxiety

Objective: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is characterized by weight loss, distorted body image with fear of becoming fat and associated with anxiety, especially in relation to food intake. Anxiety in relation to meals and weight restoration remains a major challenge in the treatment of AN. We examined the effects of inpatient weight restoration treatment on levels of post-meal anxiety using visual analogue scale (VAS) ratings in patients with AN. Materials: Thirty-two patients with AN, all part of the PROspective Longitudinal all-comer inclusion study on Eating Disorders (PROLED) were followed over eight weeks with baseline psychometric measures and weekly VAS anxiety self-scoring. Methods: Apart from the weekly body mass index (BMI) and VAS, patients were characterized at baseline using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI), Symptom Check List 92 (SCL-92), Major Depression Inventory (MDI), and Autism Quotient (AQ). Results: The results showed a significant time effect, Wilks Lambda = 0.523, F = 3.12, p < 0.05 (power of 0.862), indicating a reduction in VAS scores of anxiety from baseline to week 8. There was no effect of baseline medication or scores of MDI on the results. BMI increased from a mean of 15.16 (week 1) to 17.35 (week 8). In comparison, patients dropping out after only three weeks (n = 31) also had a trend toward a reduction in VAS anxiety (ns). Conclusions: Inpatient weight restoration treatment is associated with a decrease in post-meal anxiety in AN, an effect that occurs early and becomes clinically significant in patients who stay in treatment.

Study Protocol for “Psilocybin as a Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa: A Pilot Study”

Background: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious and life-threatening psychiatric condition. With a paucity of approved treatments, there is a desperate need for novel treatment avenues to be explored. Here, we present (1) an overview of the ways through which Public Patient Involvement (PPI) has informed a trial of psilocybin-assisted therapy for AN and (2) a protocol for a pilot study of psilocybin-assisted therapy in AN currently underway at Imperial College London. The study aims to assess the feasibility, brain mechanisms and preliminary outcomes of treating anorexia nervosa with psilocybin.Methods: (1) PPI: Across two online focus groups, eleven individuals with lived experience of AN were presented with an overview of the protocol. Their feedback not only identified solutions to possible barriers for future participants, but also helped the research team to better understand the concept of “recovery” from the perspective of those with lived experience. (2) Protocol: Twenty female participants [21–65 years old, body mass index (BMI) 15 kg/m2 or above] will receive three oral doses of psilocybin (up to 25 mg) over a 6-week period delivered in a therapeutic environment and enveloped by psychological preparation and integration. We will work with participant support networks (care teams and an identified support person) throughout and there will be an extended remote follow-up period of 12 months. Our two-fold primary outcomes are (1) psychopathology (Eating Disorder Examination) across the 6-month follow-up and (2) readiness and motivation to engage in recovery (Readiness and Motivation Questionnaire) across the 6-week trial period. Neurophysiological outcome measures will be: (1) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain changes from baseline to 6-week endpoint and (2) post-acute changes in electroencephalography (EEG) activity, including an electrophysiological marker of neuronal plasticity.Discussion: The results of this pilot study will not only shed light on the acceptability, brain mechanisms, and impression of the potential efficacy of psilocybin as an adjunct treatment for AN but will be essential in shaping a subsequent Randomised Control Trial (RCT) that would test this treatment against a suitable control condition.Clinical Trial Registration: identifier: NCT04505189.

Опитувальник для визначення синдрому нічного переїдання (NEQ) – валідація та адаптація для української популяції

Синдром нічного переїдання (СНП, night-eating syndrome) належить до «Інших специфічних порушень харчової поведінки». СНП характеризується наявністю нічного вживання їжі, безсонням, ранковою анорексією та розладами настрою і сну. Цей вид порушення харчової поведінки (ПХП) притаманний пацієнтам з ожирінням або надлишковою масою тіла та цукровим діабетом 2-го типу (ЦД2). Наявність СНП погіршує метаболічний контроль ЦД2 та ускладнює лікування цього захворювання. Наразі існує лише один метод, який дозволяє діагностувати цей синдром — опитувальник для визначення СНП (Night Eating Questionnaire, NEQ). На жаль, він не адаптований для використання в україномовній популяції. Мета: адаптувати та оцінити валідність української версії NEQ для застосування серед пацієнтів із ЦД2 та ожирінням або надлишковою масою тіла. Матеріал і методи. 105 осіб (37 чоловіків та 68 жінок, вік — 60,3±7,2 року, індекс маси тіла (ІМТ) — 31,9±3,7 кг/м2) із встановленим діагнозом ЦД2 та ожирінням або надлишковою масою тіла заповнили перекладену версію NEQ. Внутрішню узгодженість опитувальника оцінювали за допомогою показника α-Кронбаха. Конвергентну валідність встановлювали за допомогою кореляції з «Опитувальником щодо розладів харчової поведінки» (Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, EDE-Q). Через 3 тижні 34 учасники пройшли ретестування. Результати. У 17 учасників (16,2%) було встановлено діагноз СНП. Середній загальний бал опитувальника становив 17,3±5,1. Загальна надійність шкали (α-Кронбаха) для всього тесту становила 0,76, міжкласовакореляція — 0,81. Була встановлена 4-факторна структура опитувальника, яка відповідала оригінальній версії. Загальний бал NEQ корелював із результатом EDE-Q (r=0,56). Надійність ретесту була висока (0,71). Показник ІМТ та HbA1c cтатистично не відрізнявся в пацієнтів із та без СНП. Середній загальний бал опитувальника не корелював з ІМТ (p>0,05). Висновки. Поширеність СНП серед пацієнтів із ЦД2 становить 16,2%. Україномовна версія опитувальника є надійною та валідною для оцінки наявності СНП. Опитувальник може використовуватися в цієї категорії пацієнтів для встановлення діагнозу та вибору відповідного лікування. Необхідні подальші дослідження ефективності NEQ серед пацієнтів із ЦД2 та нормальною масою тіла, а також в осіб з ожирінням або надлишковою масою тіла, але без цукрового діабету.

Associations of Stress and Appetite Hormones with Binge Eating in Females with Anorexia Nervosa after Weight Restoration: A Longitudinal Study

Binge eating is a transdiagnostic eating disorder symptom that can occur in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), persisting after weight restoration, and impeding their recovery. However, little is known about the biological predictors of binge eating after AN weight restoration. The goals of this exploratory study of 73 females with AN were: (1) to examine changes in cortisol, the adrenocorticotropic hormone, norepinephrine, ghrelin (total and active), and leptin levels across the admission, discharge, and 3 months post-discharge from the inpatient AN weight restoration; and (2) to determine whether the target hormones were associated with objective or subjective binge eating (OBE or SBE). The participants completed the self-reported Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory-II, and provided fasting whole blood samples for hormone assays. The results showed significant changes in body mass index (BMI), cortisol, total ghrelin, and leptin levels over the three time points. The cortisol levels at admission and discharge were significantly associated with the number of SBE episodes at 3 months post-discharge. Findings suggest the need to replicate and confirm the role of cortisol in predicting the emergence of SBE and uncover the mechanisms underlying SBE and cortisol to prevent SBE and its negative consequences.

Validation of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire in Danish Eating Disorder Patients and Athletes

The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) is a gold standard questionnaire to identify eating disorder symptoms but has not yet been validated in Danish. The scale consists of four theoretical constructs of disordered eating: Restraint eating, Eating concerns, Shape concerns and Weight concerns. However, the four-factor structure has been difficult to replicate across cultures. This study aimed to examine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the EDE-Q in Danish. The study consisted of four samples (aged 15–70): Patients with anorexia, bulimia and unspecified eating disorders (n = 101), patients with symptoms of binge-eating disorder (n = 300), recreational athletes (n = 404), and elite athletes (n = 526). Depending on the analysis performed, participants had to complete the EDE-Q, the SCOFF questionnaire for eating disorders or the Binge Eating Disorders Questionnaire. In accordance with international research, we found no evidence for a four-factor structure in the EDE-Q among patients or among athletes. But our results showed significant, positive associations between EDE-Q and SCOFF, BED-Q and MDI in all samples. We conclude that the internal structure of EDE-Q is low, while construct validity is high, making EDE-Q useful as an instrument to identify individuals with eating disorder symptoms, including recreational, and elite athletes.

Compulsive exercise and mental health challenges in fitness instructors; presence and interactions

Background Some physically active people exercise compulsively, which can be associated with several mental health challenges. Fitness instructors are considered important role models for an active, healthy lifestyle; yet little is known about their exercise motives and mental health. The aim of this study was to examine the presence of compulsive exercise and mental health challenges, and their interaction, in fitness instructors. Methods A total of 270 fitness instructors from Norwegian fitness clubs were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Inclusion criteria were operating as instructors within the current year and understanding Norwegian language. Data were collected by an electronic questionnaire and included demographic information, hours of classes instructed and of personal physical activity, Compulsive Exercise Test (CET), Symptom Check List – 10 (SCL-10), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q)). Results Females had higher CET scores than males, and 9% of all respondents had CET score above clinical cutoff. Respondents with clinical CET score had higher SCL-10, BDI and EDE-Q global- and subscale scores compared with their counterparts. Although CET was positively and significantly associated with BDI, SCL-10, and EDE-Q, only the latter explained the CET score (ß = 1.23, 99% CI = 0.87, 1.59). Conclusion About one out of eleven instructors were above clinical CET cut-off, revealing symptoms of compulsive exercise. EDE-Q significantly contributed in a model explaining 43% of the variation of compulsive exercise.

“Gender Differences in the Psychopathology of Obesity: How Relevant is the Role of Binge Eating Behaviors?”

Purpose: the aim of the study is the identification of the main psychopathological correlates of obese candidates for bariatric surgery, with particular attention to the relation between them and gender.Methods: 273 candidates for bariatric surgery for obesity underwent a psychiatric evaluation with compilation of psychometric scales: Revised Symptom Checklist 90-R (SCL-90R), Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), Binge Eating Scale (BES), Body Uneasiness Test (BUT), Obesity Related Well-Being (O.R. WELL). The sample has been divided on the basis of Gender and Binge Eating Disorder (BED) severity; comparisons between the groups is performed with an analysis of variance model (ANOVA) or a Pearson’s Chi-squared test. Further we also divided our sample in a Severe Binge Eating group (scores > 27), a Mild to Moderate group (18 < scores < 26) and a low/no symptoms group (scores < 17).Results: male and female subjects showed a difference in BES, with higher scores reported among women (17.50 ± 9.59) than men (14.08 ± 8.64). Women also showed higher scores across most of the SCL-90R domains and worse outcomes in terms of quality of life. Both women and men of Severe Binge Eating group reported higher scores of the SCL-90R.Conclusion: symptoms of BED, along with the Body Image Dissatisfaction (BID) are among the most important to investigate in candidates for bariatric surgery, to improve the surgery outcome.Level of evidence: III – evidence from cohort analytic study.

Ascertaining an efficient eligibility cut-off for extended Medicare items for eating disorders

Objective: Currently eligibility for expanded Medicare items for eating disorders (excluding anorexia nervosa) require a score ⩾ 3 on the 22-item Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q). We compared these EDE-Q “cases” with continuous scores on a validated 7-item version of the EDE-Q (EDE-Q7) to identify an EDE-Q7 cut-off commensurate to 3 on the EDE-Q. Methods: We utilised EDE-Q scores of female university students ( N = 337) at risk of developing an eating disorder. We used a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to assess the relationship between the true-positive rate (sensitivity) and the false-positive rate (1-specificity) of cases ⩾ 3. Results: The area under the curve showed outstanding discrimination of 0.94 (95% CI: .92–.97). We examined two specific cut-off points on the EDE-Q7, which included 100% and 87% of true cases, respectively. Conclusion: Given the EDE-Q cut-off for Medicare is used in conjunction with other criteria, we suggest using the more permissive EDE-Q7 cut-off (⩾2.5) to replace use of the EDE-Q cut-off (⩾3) in eligibility assessments.